As part of the Leporidae family, rabbits are found in many parts of the world both in the wild and in family homes as pets. Similar to cats and dogs, rabbits make wonderful pets. Each rabbit having their own personality and the ability to learn tricks and play games. They also have some particular home and veterinary care needs which are discussed here.

Vaccinations

Rabbits are vaccinated against calicivirus at 10 - 12 weeks of age and then every 12 months to maintain immunity throughout life. Calicivirus and Myxomatosis are diseases that have been introduced in Australia to help control the wild rabbit population. Whilst there are no vaccines available to prevent myxomatosis, rabbits should be vaccinated against calicivirus which is spread by insects.

Parasite control

The following are some guidelines for parasite control in pocket pets.

Fleas

Rabbits can attract dog fleas. There are some excellent, easy to use flea control products available including Advantage and Revolution.

Mites/Lice

Rabbits can be infected with either fur mites or ear mites. Fur mites usually cause a dandruff type skin condition over the shoulders of the rabbit. It is normally not itchy. Rabbits with ear mites frequently scratch at their ears and earwax may be visible. If your bunny has any of these signs a vet should examine him/her so the condition can be treated and your pet made more comfortable.

Heartworm

Rabbits are not susceptible to heartworm disease which normally affects dogs and cats.

Dental Care

Rabbits have teeth that continually grow hence overgrown incisors (front teeth) and molars (cheek teeth) can occur. We often see rabbits with overgrown teeth due to poor diet or hereditary factors. They may form spurs on their molar teeth if they are not worn down naturally by chewing roughage. Some rabbits need their teeth burred down regularly under anaesthetic if they suffer from spurs.

Rabbit fed on a high carbohydrate/low fibre diet can suffer from a condition called gut stasis. This can also be bought on by stress, lack of exercise or fur ingestion. This causes the gut to stop fermenting food and no faeces are produced. Rabbits suffering from gut stasis will stop eating, become depressed and stop producing faeces. This condition can become serious after just a few hours so if you notice changes in your rabbit you should have him/her checked as soon as possible.

Not all commercially available rabbit food are good for rabbits. Some are not balanced and can cause severe problems for rabbits with gut stasis. Contact us for advice on which brands of rabbit food are the best.

Desexing

If you are not planning to breed from your pet, desexing is recommended. It ensures a calm temperament and reduces the likelihood of some serious diseases.

Male rabbits are usually desexed from 4-6 months of age. Female rabbits should also be desexed between 4-6 months of age. The main reason for desexing female rabbits is the prevention of uterine cancer (it’s reported that 60-80% of rabbits may develop uterine cancer if left entire).

Nail trimming

Rabbits have continuously growing nails that need to be trimmed regularly.

Housing

Housing for rabbits can include hutches, cages or even free run of the home. They can be raised outdoors or indoors. Whichever option is most suitable for your home and rabbit, all should provide shelter from the extreme weather conditions and predators as well as a resting retreat. Read more about housing for rabbits.

Socialisation

Rabbits have a very active mind and can get bored quickly so keep them entertained by supplying them with lots of toys to play with. Click here for ideas.